End of season survey on honey yield USDA Zone 4 and Zone 5

[shoefly]

This survey is only intended for beekeeping operations in

USDA Zone 4
For example: Northwood, Iowa; Nebraska; Minneapolis/St.Paul, Minnesota; Lewistown, Montana

USDA Zone 5
For example: Columbia, Missouri; Mansfield, Pennsylvania; Des Moines, Iowa; Illinois

see USDA map
http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html


Do not participate unless you kept your bees in these zones for this season.

[size="1"][ October 06, 2006, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: shoefly ][/size]

[BerkeyDavid]

FYI here is a map if you don't know where you are.

(which is generally my problem )

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Link

alternate link to same map:
USDA plant hardiness zone map

[size="1"][ October 03, 2006, 11:32 AM: Message edited by: BerkeyDavid ][/size]

[Ann]

You know, these polls really irritate me. Why can't anyone view the results without voting - I can't vote, because I don't live in your designated areas, yet I'm curious to see how much honey others are gathering.

[BerkeyDavid]

Ann

Post your own poll for zones 6 & 7! I was surprised to see that MA had 4 different zones, from 4 in the west to 7 in the east...

Maybe once the poll is closed it can be published. I think the reason is to prevent people from being influenced by the other responses when answering...

[shoefly]

Ann,
The survey for Zones 6 and 7 is now posted

[Joel]

It seems clear from this small samling combined with the ABJ Honey Market Report the years totals are down for these zones and below state averages. Poor spring queens, Cool, wet spring, wet summer and suprisingly delayed bloom for our area all contributed for at least my micro climate in the Finger lakes.

Of course being the consumate optimists there's always next year!

[jean-marc]

Next year is the best crop I ever got.

Jean-Marc

[shoefly]

The survey results out of 30 respondents.

USDA Zone 4 23% (7)
USDA Zone 5 77% (23)

What races did you keep this season? Choose 4

Italian. Apis mellifera ligustica. 60% (18)
Carniolans. Apis mellifera carnica. 50% (15)
Russian. 23% (7)
Buckfasts. (mixture of several) 7% (2)
Feral (mutts of unknown origin that appear to have been wild for some time). 27% (8)
Other 7% (2)

What was the main hobby or commercial objective?
Choose 1

Producing Honey 67% (20)
Producing Wax 3% (1)
Rearing Queens 3% (1)
Making more bees by Splitting, making Nucs, making Packages 17% (5)
Other 10% (3)

What was the number of hives in permanent bee yards? Choose 1
1 – 4 hives 33% (10)
5 – 10 hives 33% (10)
11 – 20 hives 17% (5)
21 – 40 hives 7% (2)
41 – 80 hives 3% (1)
81 – 160 hives 0% (0)
161 – 320 hives 3% (1)
Other 3% (1)

What was the number of hives in migratory operation? Choose 1

Not applicable. I keep all hives in permanent bee yards. 97% (29)
81 – 160 hives 3% (1)

What was the average honey yield per hive? Choose 1

Not applicable. Honey production was not the main objective this season. 7% (2)
None harvested 20% (6)
Average per hive yield up to 20 lbs 10% (3)
Average per hive yield 21 – 40 lbs 10% (3)
Average per hive yield 41 – 60 lbs 20% (6)
Average per hive yield 61 – 80 lbs 10% (3)
Average per hive yield 81 – 100 lbs 13% (4)
Average per hive yield 101 – 120 lbs 7% (2)
Average per hive yield 121 – 140 lbs 0% (0)
Average per hive yield 141 – 160 lbs 3% (1)